New York Mets rookie pitchers eyeing history
If the New York Mets are to make their first World Series appearance since 2000, productive pitching from rookies will play a large part in the efforts of getting there.
The St. Louis Cardinals of 2013 currently hold two postseason pitching records — the most innings logged by rookies (67.0), as well as strikeouts tallied (75).
It’s going to take some work, but the trio of Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Hansel Robles are looking to replicate some of the Cardinals’ work from 2013 when they eventually lost the World Series in six games to the Boston Red Sox.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Through the NLDS, the three Mets rookies have pitched 13.1 innings in the first round against the Dodgers, combining for 17 strikeouts. If a seven game series evolves against the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS, Syndergaard and Matz are probable to start in three of those seven contests. The reliever, Robles, could get into the mix here and there as well, but with Matt Harvey‘s post-Tommy John workload being monitored closely, any three could appear in a relief capacity, such as Syndergaard did in game five of their NLDS matchup to setup a six out save situation for closer Jeurys Familia.
Both potentially remaining series for the Mets are going to have to go deep for a significant run at the numbers. If the trio of young arms can average 21 innings pitched per series for the remainder of the playoffs, they could surpass the championship 2002 Los Angeles Angels for second on the list with regards to freshman pitching outputs (55.2 IP, 59 SO).
While eyeing the Cardinals mark is a lofty one, there is little doubt surrounding the impact and value of young pitching on the Mets’ staff. Their playoff rotation has an average age of 24.75 years. Incredible, when you consider the second youngest one of the four teams remaining are the Kansas City Royals at 28 years, followed by the Cubs at 29.25 and the Blue Jays at 31.
Live Feed class=inline-text id=inline-text-8
FanSided
The 2015 season in general has been highlighted by the impact of young players throughout the league. Right now, the only club still alive in October without a special group of rookie contributors are the Royals. The Mets — aside from names on their pitching staff — are getting value out of left fielder Michael Conforto. The Blue Jays have Aaron Sanchez and Roberto Osuna at the backend of their bullpen. Lastly, and to great affect, the Cubs have Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell, Jorge Soler and Javier Baez.
Despite 194 years of combined existence between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball’s history, the franchises have never faced one another in the postseason, until now. The clubs have only two World Series victories between them in the last 107 years, so you can bet this will be an extraordinary NLCS for a couple of very hungry franchises.
There’s a strong chance that whichever team’s rookies collectively perform better in the upcoming series will also be the same ones still playing against the American League counterparts later in the month. An interesting storyline to keep an eye on will be that of the Mets’ young arms versus the Cubs’ young bats.